With as much wanderlust as I am afflicted with, I’m not sure how I’ve never written a review for this place. Maybe I thought it would just take too long (yes, brace yourselves – it’s a long one). I rely so heavily on traveler reviews when picking a destination that I’m a little ashamed I haven’t provided one yet. So… here it is.
I’ve enjoyed
going to Cape May since I was a teenager. Some of my fondest memories are with
my mother and grandmother at the shore. Cape May is like B&B Mecca – so many
Victorian Inns… quaint and quiet... and some incredible restaurants (see
previous post about Foodie Heaven @ the Cape!). When I found the Mission Inn
online, I was instantly drawn to the novelty of a non-Victorian Bed and
Breakfast. Not that they aren’t wonderful, but it was time to try something
new. Curiosity and tremendous accolades
convinced me to go. Since 2006 I’ve been back every summer except for 2010 – at least once.
Umm… Where to
start?
Tad and I are
both travel snobs. As I approach minimalism in my everyday lifestyle, travel is
one area I know I’ll never be able to compromise in (Vegas this weekend, for
example. Triple-A 5-Diamond Award, much?). We’ve stayed at a lot of really,
really nice places, including the only 5-diamond hotel in Sunny Isles, and a
number of other highly-praised hotels and inns. Let me just say this: The
Mission Inn is, without question, my favorite place to stay.
Anywhere.
Let’s start
with the innkeepers. If you’re a B&B fan, you already know that sometimes
an innkeeper can make or break your trip. I’ve experienced everything from the
most annoyingly intrusive to the ambivalent and unhelpful. As far as the
Mission goes, I think it’s safe to say that Susan and Ray have made the place a
success simply by being them. They’re
friendly, inviting, and the most helpful people you’ll ever meet. Their effort
to get to know you personally (without cornering you for conversation when you’re
clearly ready to head to the beach) and to make sure that every single detail
of your trip is planned accordingly – from the appropriate maps to reservations
to insightful suggestions – is impeccable. Your stay here will be completely
worry-free. During our first stay, Susan arranged our dinner reservations. We
were completely surprised by an amuse-bouche that night (Ahi tuna); our waiter
informed us that the dish was from Susan and Ray. Wow.
Rooms: GORGEOUS.
The website doesn’t do them justice. They took the Spanish mission theme and
completely transformed the place into a beautiful haven. Hardwood floors,
hand-carved wooden headboards, lovely stone tile in the spa showers and Jacuzzi
tubs, plantation shutters, reclaimed wood for ceiling beams, and, not to
mention, the murals. Someone is seriously
talented. The housekeepers are wonderful – no sooner are you finished with
breakfast and your room is back in order with fresh Godiva and chilled water
waiting (unless, of course, you’ve asked not to be disturbed). The flat-screens
and fireplaces (in every room) are wonderful.
Amenities:
The Mission sets the bar high. Upon arrival, you’re welcomed with
chocolate-covered strawberries and a cold drink. The refrigerator is stocked with
complimentary wine, water, and soda, as well as ample space for your leftovers
from a night out. Heat them up for a midnight snack if you’d like – the Solarium
has all the dishes you’ll need, as well as a microwave. Their famous (and, I
must warn you, terribly addicting) oatmeal-cranberry cookies are always out.
Hot water is available for their extensive tea collection, as well as a
nicely-stocked drawer of K-Cups for the Keurig. Early riser? No problem. Make a
cup of joe before breakfast is served. Or curl up in the Great Room with a cup
of hot cocoa and watch a good movie. (Their DVD collection is great – take one
to your room or watch one right there in the Solarium.) There are books and
magazines galore, as well as a delicious bottle of port right there next to the
couch should you decide to partake in late-night conversation. Need to pick a
restaurant? The Mission has full menus for all of the local restaurants (there
must be a hundred). If Susan walks by and finds you searching, she’ll be able
to tell you just about everything there is to know about dining in Cape May,
and then she’ll offer to make you a reservation. They offer
brochures/maps/directions/even coupons for just about anything you’d like to
do. I’ve been going to Cape May for a long time, but I never would’ve known
about the imported cheese shop had it not been for Susan and Ray (stop by and
create a custom cheese basket for a wine-tasting at the Vineyard). Of course
there are giant, comfy beach towels (and an outdoor shower), beach chairs, beach
umbrellas, boogie boards, free beach tags (your deposit for these is refunded
when you leave), and – one of my favs – the bicycles (the traditional kind with
baskets). We finally tried them out a couple of years ago, and let me tell you,
it’s one of the most romantic, refreshing ways to spend a vacation. Just bike
down to Washington Street for ice cream, or ride around town to look at the
impressive Victorian architecture. Nothing like a sunny afternoon, riding with
the breeze along the beach.
Location: One
block from the beach. It’s right there. Close enough to Washington Street to
hop on a bike and go shopping, too. J
Privacy: You
can be as private or as social as you wish here. Veranda, dining room, Great
Room, Solarium, front porch, fountains and sun chairs in the back yard… steal
away or make new friends.
Food: You
have no idea. Let me walk you through a typical breakfast:
Start with choosing when to eat. I love that breakfast is "served between the hours of" - since it's a hot, gourmet breakfast, you'd expect a specific time, but you've got a nice little window. Then choose
where to eat. The dining room is indoors, but the veranda and the porch offer
outdoor tables (hello warm sun and ocean breeze in the morning… ahhh). Susan or
Ray will offer you coffee or tea and will start you off with your fresh juice of
choice: Peach-mango-orange, blackberry-cranberry, orange-pineapple-banana… you
name it, they’ve got it. Once drinks are served, the cook will bring you a
fruit dish to begin. Ever had grilled watermelon with blueberries? How about
fresh honeydew and cream in a cocktail glass? Blueberry-coconut soup?! They even grow
their own blackberries. Then comes the main course. Don’t eat eggs or pork? No
problem. (They’ll ask you when you book your stay what your food
preferences/allergies are.) Tad hates eggs, for example. One day the main
course was an omelet with fresh vegetables, grilled chicken, and roasted
potatoes over a bed of summer greens (and a light citrus vinaigrette). The cook
took the time to make him the most AMAZING VANILLA-CINAMMON-STUFFED FRENCH
TOAST EITHER OF US HAD EVER TASTED. SO many creative and wonderfully prepared
entrees – one morning last summer I had a ham-and-Vermont-aged-cheddar
breakfast Panini with an over-easy egg for dipping J (took the ham off though, as I had
forgotten to tell them that I don’t eat pork.) End breakfast with whatever
amazing homemade confection the cook has dreamed up: blackberry-lemon cupcakes,
raspberry scones with fresh lemon curd, shortcake with berries, warm coffee
cake… best breakfast “dessert” I’ve had there was baked peaches with cinnamon,
homemade granola, and raspberry sauce. Heaven.
In addition
to breakfast, hors d'ouveres are
served every afternoon around 4. Forget cheese cubes. Look for jumbo shrimp,
Southwestern corn and bean dip, cranberry-walnut-chicken salad on corn muffins,
mini quiche, lightly-battered Tuscan eggplant, chicken kielbasa with an
apple-peach glaze, and banana-pineapple bread pudding with a raspberry garnish.
The spread is always generous and delicious.
Simply put, there’s just nothing like it. The attention
to detail, the relaxing but incredibly pampering atmosphere, the best food one
could eat – you can’t top this place. It’s our home-away-from-home.
